More than sixty years ago, South Africa adopted the Women’s Charter to ensure fair representation, employment and equal treatment for women.

In 2016, MTV Base (DStv channel 322) has invited a panel of influential young women to participate in a special episode of MTV Base Roundtable: What Women Want, to discuss whether the Women’s Charter has lived up to its promise and if South African women have achieved the equality they sought.

To ensure relevance in the roundtable forum, MTV Base conducted a research questionnaire with young South African women highlighting the importance of the 3 different topic points.

Monde Twala, Vice President of BET, Youth & Music, VIMN Africa said: “Youth activism is a critical reality in modern day Africa. The Women’s Charter was a landmark piece of legislation in its day and it’s important that we continue weigh up its success in today’s world against the massive efforts envisaged by inspirational figures such as Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Albertina Sisulu and Helen Joseph. It appears there is still a long way to go when it comes to addressing inequalities.”

He continued, “Shot at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg,
the MTV Base Roundtable is a 44-minute special that addresses a wide range of issues based around three core topics affecting contemporary young women on the continent: family, work and social. The panel explores subjects such as inequality in the workplace, unequal pay, and discrimination on leadership positions, sexual harassment and the role of women who oppress other women.”

The panel also addresses a number of social ills that take place within family structures, which erode the dignity of women through patriarchy entrenched in religion, traditions, gender roles, sexual abuse and other expectations imposed on women.

The discussion also focuses on social injustices women are faced with in their daily lives – how they should dress to avoid rape, dealing with harassment and disrespect, the judgement and labelling of women who stand up for themselves, date rape and “corrective” rape.

Tune into MTV Base Roundtable: What Women Want on MTV Base (DStv 322) on Saturday 13 August 2016 at 15:00.

For more information on MTV Base Roundtable: What Women Want please go to www.mtvbase.com orwww.mtv.co.za, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MTVza or www.Facebook.com/MTVBaseVerified and chat with us on Twitter @mtvza or @MTVBaseSouth, using the hashtag #WomenSlay